Another ’90s Throwback Hair Accessory Pops Up at Prabal Gurung

After spending nearly two decades buried in the back of a bathroom drawer, the claw clip regained the spotlight at last night’s Alexander Wang show, with many models choosing to keep the throwback accessory in after hours at the Proenza Schouler party. And today at Prabal Gurung, mane master Anthony Turner pulled out a plastic stretch comb (also known as a circle or accordion headband) that many of us remember fondly from the same era as the beauty relic reimagined in silver chrome by Wang. “They’re actually surprisingly hard to find because nobody uses them anymore,” said Turner. “I saw one in Ricky’s and I needed 50. Luckily, you can still get them on Amazon Prime.”

Photo: firstVIEW

Backstage, Turner raked Wella’s EIMI Extra Volume Mousse and EIMI Body Crafter Spray through strands, then blew them dry with a Hot Tools blowdryer before pulling the length back into a messy “yoga knot.” (We imagine you could substitute styling products for sweat should you be into Bikram.) “There’s no real method to the knot other than quicker you do it, the better it’s going to be,” said the pro. While the designer referenced nomadic travelers journeying through the scenic Himalayas, Turner was thinking about today’s multifaceted woman: “Her hair is the last thing on her mind. It’s all about getting it out of the way and still making it look good,” he explained, which is where that flexible comb comes into play. After completing the chignon, he tucked the headband’s plastic teeth into the front of the hair and secured it at the nape of the neck.

Photo: firstVIEW

Makeup artist Diane Kendal paired Turner’s yoga knots with a rosy glow one might achieve after a few downward dogs, but the face painter referenced the “matriarchal Mosuo tribe” as the jumping off point for the fresh flush that came courtesy of MAC’s Blush in Flirting With Danger. In this unique and nearly utopian society located in China near the border of Tibet, women truly rule. Not only do they make all business decisions and serve as the head of their households, but Mosuo women have as many (or as few) sexual partners as they desire and often enter into walking marriages, “an elegant term for what are essentially furtive, nocturnal hook-ups with lovers known as ‘axia,’” according to The Guardian. Now, that’s what we call an HBIC. And judging by the floral posters plastered on walls backstage featuring powerful reminders—such as “Your voice is your power. Use it for justice.” or “You are the present. You are the future. You rule the world. Walk with intention.”—Gurung wanted his girls to channel those badass Buddhist women on his runway. The stretch combs simply let models keep their eyes firmly on the prize.